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SCUTTLEBUTT 2689 - Thursday, September 25, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. REVISED RACING RULES FOR 2009-2012 * The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 (RRS) has been made available to download online ahead of the worldwide date of implementation on 1 January 2009. The RRS are the definitive rules which govern sailing races around the world. They are revised and published every four years by ISAF. The new edition of the RRS includes marginal markings to indicate important changes to the rules in Parts 1–7 and the Definitions. -- Full details: http://www.sailing.org/25474.php?PHPSESSID=c73c7fe1d3bf356b319351b90a8094a3 * Few people are more familiar with The Racing Rules of Sailing than US rules expert Dick Rose. Dick has been a member of ISAF Racing Rules Committee and the Racing Rules Committee Working Party for almost 20 years. He is also the chairman of the ISAF Case Book Working Party, has been a member of US SAILING’s Racing Rules Committee for well over 20 years and was rules advisor to the US Olympic Team from 1984-1992. Since the publication of the 2005-2008 edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing, Dick has been a central figure in the evolution of the 2009-2012 edition of the RRS. Regarding the new edition of the RRS, Rose comments, “By far the most significant changes for sailors will be the major revision in the rules that govern boats at marks and obstructions (and some related definitions). These rules are in Section C of the Part 2 rules. The old Section C rules, particularly old rule 18, were by far the most complicated rules in The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2005-2008. While competitors generally liked the ‘game’ they produced, many, including the last two ISAF Presidents, called for simplification. “In 2005 and 2006 the US SAILING Racing Rules Committee and the Royal Yachting Association Racing Rules Committee developed several drafts of possible revisions of Section C, and two preliminary US drafts were tested on the water by various fleets during the summer of 2006. “The new Section C rules (and related definitions) are the result of a process that was described to and approved by the ISAF Racing Rules Committee in November 2006. Using the US and RYA drafts and feedback from competitors and race officials as initial input, a special working party drafted the new Section C rules. Its members were Chris Atkins and Richard Thompson, from the UK, and Ben Altman, Rob Overton and the author, from the USA. “There are other changes in the new edition of the rules, but they are not as extensive as the changes that have been made in past revisions and for the most part, when compared to the changes in the rules for marks and obstructions, not critical to how the ‘game’ is played.” -- Complete report: http://www.sailing.org/25475.php “THE SPORT OF SAILING IS FAR TOO COMPLICATED” While the America’s Cup community awaits it’s next chapter, America’s Cup veteran and Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth shares his views about the current state of the sport of sailing. * What do you consider as the key issues the sport of sailing faces at the moment? BB: There are too many conflicts with the race calendar. Many yachtsmen would like to compete more, but they can’t because the regattas take place at the same time. The sport of sailing is also far too complicated and it just can’t be properly televised and understood. It definitely needs a good shake up in order to become more user-friendly. * Where do you think the complications are specifically? BB: Well, there are many reasons but to start with, the rules are far too complex. The problem behind this is that sailing’s governing body, ISAF, has a long history of making rules. Every time we want to change something, it ends up in a Committee. The sport is not run by the sportsmen, but by Committees. * What about other issues? BB: Sailing is not a TV friendly sport and a good example is the last Olympic Games, where it was just impossible to properly follow a regatta. There are also far too many classes and this is diluting the sport. Finally, there is a serious problem with the racing calendar. In order to avoid overlaps, there should be an independent governing body. The ISAF could do this, but it is very difficult to find a body of truly independent people. Complete interview: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/0924a ISAF ROLEX WORLD SAILOR OF THE YEAR PREDICTIONS ISAF and Rolex have announced the Nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2008, but rather than wait until the winners are announced on Tuesday 11 November 2008 in Madrid, Spain, the ‘buttheads have cast their vote on who they believe to be most deserving. The final tally met some expectations, and also provided some surprises. While each candidate is very deserving, likely the biggest surprise was the high ranking of boardsailors considering their minority status in the sport. Also, as has been exhibited in previous polls, Scuttlebutt readers maintained their undying admiration for American Anna Tunnicliffe. -- Read poll results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0923/ TEAM, BOAT AND EVENT GRAPHICS ON MOISTURE WICKING SHIRTS Check out The Pirates Lair team package pricing on poly: 1-6 Long Sleeve with Print: $28.00 each 6-24 Long Sleeve with Print: $22.00 each 24+ Long Sleeve with Print: $18.00 each. Graphic design charges extra. For more info email mailto:ken@pirateslair.com AMERICA'S CUP SUMMIT IN CALIFORNIA California dreaming could turn to America's Cup reality this weekend as the warring factions of Swiss holder Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi and would-be challenger BMW Oracle's Larry Ellison meet face to face after circling each other for over 12 months. Bertarelli is in the golden state on business, Ellison is addressing 40,000 delegates to an Oracle jamboree, but they are expected to sit down and try to thrash out a resolution to a dispute which is imprisoned in the New York legal system. Unusually, this will not be a rubber stamp meeting of number ones. The officials further down the line have not drawn up a blueprint which is already largely agreed. "There has been no contact between the teams and there is nothing new on the table from them," said Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth. -- by Stuart Alexander, The Independent, full story: http://tinyurl.com/4n6rnm => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Despite Ernesto’s meeting with Larry in San Francisco this weekend, the Swiss team’s lawyer Lucien Masmejan has already denounced the latest offer by the American team, which was included in Scuttlebutt 2687 earlier this week. As quoted in the La Tribune De Geneve (and translated), Lucien states, “Why has it beat for a year to finally abandon a new protocol that was signed by all challengers except Oracle. Unthinkable! It is mocking the world. We were dragged before the courts, challenged in multihulls, and now they want to stop. This is not serious.” -- Complete story: http://tinyurl.com/3lcvas THE BEAT GOES ON FOR AMERICA’S CUP PROGRAMS * For the 2009 MedCup season, Team New Zealand will have a TP52 in their own colours. A Botin Carkeek design is already under way at Cookson’s in Auckland– who built the 2007 Circuit winning Artemis (SWE) – while the sail package is from North New Zealand and Southern Spars will do the mast. The plan is to have the boat in the water around the time of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series (31 January to 14th February) before shipping it to Europe. The core of the team includes Ray Davies, Dean Barker, Kevin Hall, Adam Beashel, Jeremy Lomas, and James Dagg. -- Complete story: http://2008.medcup.org/news/?id=469 *America’s Cup Team French Spirit has retained the use of the 93-foot Hugh Welbourn design, now called FRENCH SPIRIT ONE, to carry on its training programme. Philippe Presti, Bertrand Pacé and Mathieu Richard - currently No 1 of the ISAF World Match Race ranking - are going to set up various training sessions in Saint-Tropez during the winter 2008-2009 to recruit and test new talents, select grinders and get everyone more acquainted with a 30 meter mono-hull yacht. Team French Spirit intends also to compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Early this year in April, the team had announced an innovative strategy to develop design ideas for the AC90 rule, and thus invited the main French and international naval architect firms to participate in the “Designer Competition”. On September 18th in Marseille, seven design teams submitted their files to public notary (to protect their identities during the first stage of evaluation), and will now have their work reviewed by a judging panel. -- http://www.teamfrenchspirit.com VIDEO OF THE WEEK When the French team connected with this Welbourn maxi, it reminded us of an impressive video that was produced for the initial launch of this boat in March 2002. Originally named Bols, the maxi was the creation of sports marketing firm SYS. Working with designer Hugh Welbourn, SYS presented to Remy Cointreau a project to launch the Bols brand of alcoholic beverages to a wider audience. Remy went for it, and this video provides insight in how the cart can come before the horse, and a company can get involved in a project from the start, much like PUMA’s Volvo Ocean Race team. Very flashy presentation, and while the boat never lived up to its record-breaking expectations, it is a testament of how a video can create excitement and interest for a project that was an integral part of a company’s corporate strategy. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/08/0926 * If you have a video you like, please send your suggestion for next week’s Video of the Week to mailto:craig@sailingscuttlebutt.com NEW QUAD – NEW LEADERSHIP (September 24, 2008) - Kenneth Andreasen (Tampa, FL) has been named the new High Performance Director of the Olympic Sailing Program, US SAILING, announced today. His responsibilities will include managing all on-the-water elements of the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Programs and enabling sailors to reach the highest level of competition for the next Olympic and Paralympic quadrenniums. Andreasen joins Chairman Dean Brenner (Wallingford, CT) and Olympic Director Katie Kelly (Barrington, RI) on the executive team. Andreasen replaces Gary Bodie (Hampton, VA), who is retiring this fall after serving as the program's first High Performance Director for the last decade. Bodie has been instrumental in transforming the Olympic Sailing Program from an amateur sport to a year-round, full-time, professional sport. When Bodie first took on the challenge, most sailors only sailed three major, international regattas: the World Championship in their respective class, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR and the Olympic Games. "We needed to enable, encourage and incentivize the sailors to train year round and to compete against major international athletes," said Bodie. "You can't get to the elite level competing in your own backyard." -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/47d98x “TEAM TRAFFIC” WINS J/22 NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP Flip Wehrheim, Jimmy Barnash, and Scott Kinsella piloted their J/22 “Team Traffic” to a win over 37 other boats at the J/22 Northeast District Championships as part of the 2008 Lake George Open last weekend in Diamond Point, New York. Wehrheim, who placed third overall at the recent 2008 J/22 World Championships, conquered a very competitive fleet in windy conditions Saturday, followed by lighter breezes Sunday. The team used 100% Ullman Sails inventory that allowed them to maintain boat speed throughout the changing conditions. Ullman Sails – Invest in your performance. Contact a local Ullman Sails loft and visit http://www.ullmansails.com. RICHARD, MIRSKY ON A ROLL AT TROIA PORTUGAL MATCH CUP Troia, Portugal (September 24, 2008) - Mathew Richard from the French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, the number one ISAF ranked sailor in the world, continued his excellent form after winning the recent World Tour event in Switzerland with a storming day at the Troia Portugal Match Cup, winning four of his five matches on the opening day. After a loss to Richard, Aussie star Torvar Mirsky, finalist in Match Cup Sweden, rolled to an equally impressive 4-1 score. Racing started mid-afternoon after a misty, breathless morning, but allowed the second group only one flight before both the wind and the light faded, with reigning World Match Racing Tour Champion and current leader, Ian Williams from the UK, winning the battle of the Brits, taking down newcomer Nick Cherry in his very first Tour race. -- Complete report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6436 SAILING SHORTS * Fawcett Boat Supplies, a prominent marine business in Annapolis, emerged from bankruptcy this month with a plan its owners said will repay more than 100 creditors and fuel growth. The company’s reorganization plan was approved by bankruptcy court Sept. 10. The plan addresses 38 classes of creditors holding $5.6 million in claims against the company, said Fawcett President Steve Ripley. The majority of creditors will be paid back 10 cents on the dollar, he said. -- The Capital, full story: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/09_23-14/BUS * Oyster Bay, NY - Twelve teams comprised of the country’s foremost sailors will gather at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club for US SAILING's 2008 U.S. Match Racing Championship (USMRC) for the Prince of Wales Bowl. Racing in Sonars on Long Island Sound September 25 -28, the entrant list is topped by 2005 and 2007 USMR Champion and 2008 Ficker Cup winner Brian Angel (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). -- Complete story: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2008/matchracing_preview.asp * The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is supporting the European Boating Association (EBA) in their commitment to complete the ISO standard for keel and rig attachments in small craft construction. Following the finalization of the ISO-12215-9 small craft construction standard for scantlings earlier this year, urgent steps are now being taken by the ISO Working Group responsible for structures to complete the further part of the standard dealing with the all important keel and rig attachment. -- Read on: http://www.sailing.org/25460.php * Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Raw sewage floating in the harbour and on the beaches of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC), which annually hosts sailing regattas for its 3,000-strong members, has put a stop to any swimming or sailing. Beaches in the Jumeirah area have also been affected. According to the management at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) sewage and faeces has been a problem at the club for the last three months. -- Read on: http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10247543.html CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Here are a few of the events that are coming up: Sept 26-28 - International 14 US Nationals - Pt. Richmond, CA, USA Sept 27 - Hard Rock Laser Masters - Rock Hall, MD, USA Sept 27-28 - 24th Annual Dunedin Cup & Kiwanis Regatta - Dunedin, FL, USA Sept 27-28 - Naptown Regatta - Indianapolis, IN, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get one letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Bruce Bates, Durham NH: Why is it that terrible collisions (with serious injuries) happen with alarming frequency at classic boat regattas? Is it: A) Lack of familiarity with the racing rules? B) Lack of boat handling skills in close quarters? C) Lack of familiarity with the handling characteristics of heavy deep keeled vessels? D) All of the above. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Great question! Rather than send us all your emails on the subject, we created a Scuttlebutt Poll for you to place your vote and post your comments. Click on this link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0924 * From John Dunn, New York: Were Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page (2008 Olympic Gold, 1st 2008 European Championship, 1st 2008 Australian Worlds) left off the ISAF Sailor of the Year short list because they foiled the ISAF grand scoring scheme by clinching Olympic Gold before the Medal Race? * From Bob Fisher: What a pity David Tabor (letter in #2688) is so devoid of patience, when on the very day he writes there is an olive branch extended by Golden Gate YC to the SNG to bring about a cessation of the seemingly interminable court battle and restore the America's Cup to a multi-challenger event on EXACTLY the same terms as those that produced the greatest Cup event to date - that in Valencia last year. The only proviso that GGYC requests is that the rules from 2007 are not changed - which means the dropping of the draconian protocol that SNG imposed for the 33rd Cup. Not exactly a big deal if it produces racing like that which everyone enjoyed last year. Like David Tabor, in the meantime: " I've been enjoying actually SAILING, and talking sailing, and working on the boat, and thinking about skipping work." That's what we mortals should do, and hope that the AC world sees the sense of the GGYC's offer. * From Jim Fulton: (re, letters in ‘butt 2688) I, for one, still care about the America's Cup and I applaud Scuttlebutt for following the ins and outs of the ongoing disputes. Larry Ellison may never be thought of as a hero but in light of Ernesto Bertarelli's machinations... ? GGYC has to be on firm ground in its challenge to CNEV, the sham "yacht club" that was set up as the COR. After its first defeat in court, CNEV cancelled its first "annual" regatta, thereby abandoned any pretense to legitimacy. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Since the NY Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, re-established CNEV as the Challenger of Record, the club has now launched a website, and has their Annual regatta back on the calendar for November 8-9, 2008. -- http://www.clubnauticoev.com * From Manfred C. Schreiber: One can only second Andrew Hurst with his initiative to bring sailing to more nations or to an easier access entry level (in Issue 2686). An issue which had been brought up here many years ago but with a heavyweight like Andrew throwing his opinion (and I am sure, it is not him alone) in, the ISAF selection committee should get into action now. There is a social responsibility even by our international sailing government, to help all the countries, not listed in the G8 group, to develop skilled workforce and to raise its gross national product by giving them a chance to produce. Please ISAF wake up. Members go out into the field. Have a look what is possible to be built nearly everywhere. There are some clever design out already. Stitch and glue isn´t bad either. The end result can be a lightweight Skiff and be built on a beach somewhere remote. Let them all come and play. Help the "third" worlds (boatbuilding wise) economy. * From Chris Ericksen: How in tarnation did an article about introducing a lower-cost boat into the Olympics (Andrew Hurst in 'Butt 2686) lead to a promotional piece on the Optimist dinghy (Sally Burnett in 'Butt 2688)? CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS: "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." Special thanks to The Pirate’s Lair and Ullman Sails. 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